Why shops refuse it
Selling an unroadworthy bike is an offence, and most shops can't do safety checks — bike-specialist charities are the exception.
What to do instead
Bike reuse charities (The Bike Project, Re-Cycle, local community bike workshops) will take and refurbish them.
Charity by charity
-
Can't accept
British Red Cross
Selling an unsafe bicycle is against the law and can result in a large fine.
Their wording
“Bicycles”
-
Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
Their wording
“Bicycles”
-
Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Listed alongside scooters, unicycles, trikes
Their wording
“Bicycles, scooters, unicycles or trikes”
-
Can't accept
Dogs Trust
Includes bicycle accessories.
Their wording
“bicycles and accessories”
-
Can't accept
Dorothy House
Children's bicycles specifically named
Their wording
“Children's bicycles”
-
Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Donors are redirected to the Re-cycle charity for bikes.
Their wording
“Re-cycle (bicycles)”
-
Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Their wording
“Bicycles”
-
Can't accept
Willen Hospice
broad category rule
Sports equipment generally not accepted, no specific items listed
Their wording
“Sports equipment”
-
Check first
FARA Charity Shops
Only accepted if complete and in working order.
Their wording
“Complete - full sets, working order only.”
-
Check first
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Bikes are only accepted at 'Recycles' outlet locations, not standard donation centres.
Their wording
“bikes (except for Recycles outlet locations)”
-
Check first
Sue Ryder
Only repaired and tested bicycles upcycled through the Sue Ryder Bicycle Workshop are sold; not all shops take bike donations.
Their wording
“only repaired and tested bicycles which have been upcycled through our Sue Ryder Bicycle Workshop”
Not mentioned in 33 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Not mentioned Acorns Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Age UK
- Not mentioned Barnardo's
- Not mentioned British Heart Foundation
- Not mentioned Claire House Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned DEBRA
- Not mentioned Emmaus
- Not mentioned Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned LOROS Hospice
- Not mentioned Marie Curie
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned Overgate Hospice
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Phyllis Tuckwell
- Not mentioned Princess Alice Hospice
- Not mentioned Samaritans
- Not mentioned Save the Children
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shelter
- Not mentioned St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
- Not mentioned St Christopher's Hospice
- Not mentioned St Giles Hospice
- Not mentioned St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- Not mentioned The Children's Trust
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
- Not mentioned Wales Air Ambulance
- Not mentioned Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)